In response to the Call for Action to tackle the unprecedented youth employment crisis that was made by the International Labour Conference in June 2012 and to the identification of youth employment as an area of critical importance for the ILO (GB paper on ACI2 of March 2014), the organized a international mutual learning event. Organized as part of the capacity-building strategy of the area of critical importance “Jobs and skills for youth”, this event took place in Geneva on 25 and 26 September 2014 and gathered experts and practitioners on youth employment from several countries around the world. Participants included representatives of employer and worker organizations and of the World Association of Public Employment Services.

The workshop provided a platform for mutual learning on what works in the provision of employment services and programmes to young people. It examined key elements of success and how these might be replicated in other countries. It also provided an opportunity for participants to propose concrete recommendations on how they can work together in a community of practice and how the ILO can further support their work in the provision of more and better services to young people.

The workshop was structured around three themes that are key in the provision of services and programmes to young people. These were: